Week 6: Psychopathology II Flashcards
Biological Foundations of Depression
Smaller volume of gray matter especially in the cortex, hippocampus and amygdala
quite important neurotransmitters for depression
serotonin and dopamine
two years or more depression
persistent depressive disorder
postpartum depression or seasonal affective disorder
big life changes or bad events
monoamine hypothesis of depression
a lack of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine
variaton in the gene that codes for receptor 5-HTT
more prone to depression
SSRI
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
antidepressants have higher levels of BDNF
a chemical supports neurogenesis
Immune system account
high cytokine levels, caused by stress, can impact normal neurotransmitter signaling leading to the symptoms
different pathways of neurons affecting the related neurotransmitters
- raphe nuclei: serotonin
- locus coeruleus: norepinephrine
3 ventral tegmental area: dopamine
Psychosocial factors
childhood abuse, stressful events etc
Biological foundations of PTSD
damaging functions of hippocampus and amygdala leading to problems about forming and retrieving memories related to trauma
hormonal dysfuntions of ptsd
cortisol, energy isd taken from some important areas of the brain causing the symptoms of ptsd HPA axis problems
memory activates the same neurochemical cascade as the original event
stirs up the same feeling of panic and helplessness as if they’re experiencing the trauma all over again
Amygdala neurotransmitters
cortisol adrenaline and nor adrenaline/ hippocampus goes offline because of energy flows to fight and flight response. We dont need to restore memory at that time
trauma memories
fragments are not well organized and sequential
they tend to come back involuntarily
they are usually triggered by reminders/ not time coded- frozen in time/come back with all same emotions/ because of that people use drug alcohol any form of distraction
Neocortex
more conscious but slower than older parts. responsible for logic imagination planning
hippocampus
responsible for memories but in danger helps pumping cortisol instead of dealing filing memories
traumatic bonding or stockholm syndrome
a victim of abuse might bond strongly to her abuser
Hippocampus is also helping
to remember where and when danger happens so that it can be avoided in the future. In PTSD something could remind of the trauma and the hippocampus wrongly assumes that being in that situation again that sends a signal to amygdala
Prefrontal cortex
thinking planning decision making and shutting down the stress response
In PTSD the amygdala is firing so much its hard to put the brakes on. Therapy can teach to bring the prefrontal cortex and amygdala into balance.
